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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

33-9021 Private Detectives and Investigators

Gather, analyze, compile, and report information regarding individuals or organizations to clients, or detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment.


National estimates for Private Detectives and Investigators
Industry profile for Private Detectives and Investigators
Geographic profile for Private Detectives and Investigators

National estimates for Private Detectives and Investigators:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Private Detectives and Investigators:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
32,050 4.9 % $ 28.56 $ 59,400 1.3 %

Percentile wage estimates for Private Detectives and Investigators:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 16.21 $ 18.44 $ 25.06 $ 36.42 $ 44.55
Annual Wage (2) $ 33,710 $ 38,360 $ 52,120 $ 75,740 $ 92,660


Industry profile for Private Detectives and Investigators:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Private Detectives and Investigators are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Private Detectives and Investigators, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Private Detectives and Investigators:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Investigation and Security Services 7,300 0.77 $ 26.65 $ 55,440
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 2,480 0.05 $ 32.08 $ 66,720
Legal Services 2,120 0.18 $ 32.82 $ 68,270
Management of Companies and Enterprises 2,060 0.08 $ 34.44 $ 71,630
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) 1,980 0.10 $ 32.26 $ 67,110

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Private Detectives and Investigators:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Investigation and Security Services 7,300 0.77 $ 26.65 $ 55,440
Legal Services 2,120 0.18 $ 32.82 $ 68,270
Couriers and Express Delivery Services 960 0.10 $ 37.69 $ 78,390
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) 1,980 0.10 $ 32.26 $ 67,110
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 1,880 0.08 $ 28.43 $ 59,130

Top paying industries for Private Detectives and Investigators:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Scientific Research and Development Services 30 (7) $ 55.89 $ 116,250
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities 80 0.01 $ 51.30 $ 106,700
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (8) (8) $ 49.11 $ 102,150
Elementary and Secondary Schools 110 (7) $ 40.64 $ 84,540
Couriers and Express Delivery Services 960 0.10 $ 37.69 $ 78,390


Geographic profile for Private Detectives and Investigators:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Private Detectives and Investigators are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Private Detectives and Investigators, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of private detectives and investigators by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Private Detectives and Investigators:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 4,100 0.23 1.07 $ 28.80 $ 59,900
Florida 3,840 0.42 1.93 $ 28.84 $ 60,000
Texas 2,390 0.18 0.85 $ 26.44 $ 54,990
New York 1,700 0.19 0.86 $ 33.30 $ 69,260
Illinois 1,690 0.29 1.32 $ 31.99 $ 66,540


Map of location quotient of private detectives and investigators by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Private Detectives and Investigators:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Rhode Island 210 0.43 1.98 $ 28.16 $ 58,580
Florida 3,840 0.42 1.93 $ 28.84 $ 60,000
Maine 250 0.42 1.92 $ 22.33 $ 46,440
Virginia 1,430 0.37 1.70 $ 32.86 $ 68,340
New Hampshire 200 0.30 1.39 $ 32.67 $ 67,960


Map of annual mean wages of private detectives and investigators by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Private Detectives and Investigators:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Oregon 500 0.26 1.22 $ 33.96 $ 70,640
New York 1,700 0.19 0.86 $ 33.30 $ 69,260
Virginia 1,430 0.37 1.70 $ 32.86 $ 68,340
New Hampshire 200 0.30 1.39 $ 32.67 $ 67,960
Washington 600 0.18 0.81 $ 32.45 $ 67,490



Map of employment of private detectives and investigators by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Private Detectives and Investigators:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1,740 0.19 0.87 $ 34.47 $ 71,690
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,620 0.26 1.22 $ 28.56 $ 59,400
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 1,520 0.58 2.67 $ 32.79 $ 68,210
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 1,360 0.31 1.42 $ 32.55 $ 67,710
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 910 0.30 1.39 $ 35.56 $ 73,970
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 840 0.22 1.02 $ 27.67 $ 57,550
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 730 0.53 2.46 $ 23.69 $ 49,280
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 710 0.26 1.20 $ 28.32 $ 58,910
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 690 0.31 1.43 $ 28.29 $ 58,840
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 590 0.25 1.13 $ 34.53 $ 71,820


Map of location quotient of private detectives and investigators by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Private Detectives and Investigators:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Lewiston-Auburn, ME 60 1.27 5.85 $ 20.10 $ 41,800
Salem, OR 160 0.93 4.31 $ 34.29 $ 71,320
Tyler, TX 60 0.60 2.77 $ 34.68 $ 72,130
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 1,520 0.58 2.67 $ 32.79 $ 68,210
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 290 0.55 2.55 $ 23.68 $ 49,260
Tallahassee, FL 100 0.55 2.53 $ 24.66 $ 51,290
Waterbury, CT 40 0.55 2.53 $ 30.88 $ 64,240
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 730 0.53 2.46 $ 23.69 $ 49,280
Pueblo, CO 30 0.50 2.32 $ 18.86 $ 39,220
Portland-South Portland, ME 100 0.48 2.21 $ 23.28 $ 48,420


Map of annual mean wages of private detectives and investigators by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Private Detectives and Investigators:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO 120 0.46 2.11 $ 37.37 $ 77,730
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 390 0.31 1.42 $ 36.09 $ 75,060
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 910 0.30 1.39 $ 35.56 $ 73,970
Tyler, TX 60 0.60 2.77 $ 34.68 $ 72,130
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 590 0.25 1.13 $ 34.53 $ 71,820
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1,740 0.19 0.87 $ 34.47 $ 71,690
Salem, OR 160 0.93 4.31 $ 34.29 $ 71,320
Manchester, NH 30 0.32 1.47 $ 34.26 $ 71,270
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 300 0.19 0.89 $ 33.93 $ 70,580
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 80 0.21 0.98 $ 33.90 $ 70,510

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Private Detectives and Investigators:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
North Florida nonmetropolitan area 60 0.49 2.25 $ 24.60 $ 51,170
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 50 0.25 1.17 $ 20.92 $ 43,510
South Georgia nonmetropolitan area 30 0.17 0.79 $ 19.61 $ 40,800

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Private Detectives and Investigators:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
North Florida nonmetropolitan area 60 0.49 2.25 $ 24.60 $ 51,170
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 50 0.25 1.17 $ 20.92 $ 43,510
South Georgia nonmetropolitan area 30 0.17 0.79 $ 19.61 $ 40,800

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Private Detectives and Investigators:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeast Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 27.15 $ 56,470
North Florida nonmetropolitan area 60 0.49 2.25 $ 24.60 $ 51,170
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 50 0.25 1.17 $ 20.92 $ 43,510
South Georgia nonmetropolitan area 30 0.17 0.79 $ 19.61 $ 40,800


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023